A 13-year-old has become the youngest person ever to get a deal in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s richest T20 cricket tournament.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL auction, held earlier this week. He was bought for US$130 500.
Suryavanshi has played a handful of games of professional cricket before this, but has had most of his success in youth cricket. He recently hit a 58-ball century for India’s U/19 team against their Australian counterparts in a youth Test match.
Jake Lush McCrum, the CEO of the Rajasthan Royals, said Suryavanshi was an “incredible talent”.
Fourteen South Africans were bought in the IPL auction, the second-largest number after India itself, which contributed 120 players. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was sold for the highest figure, being bought for R23-million by the Gujarat Titans.